BN In Its Best Form To Wrest Back Kedah

The Kedah Barisan Nasional (BN) is now in its best form to wrest back the state because the various conflicts faced by the PKR-DAP-PAS pact have enabled the people to see their true colours and what they will do should they manage to retain power in the state.

Apart from the hard work and determination showed by BN leaders at various levels, the internal crisis of the PKR-DAP-PAS pact and the weaknesses of the PAS-led state government have also contributed to the return of people's support to BN, including from among PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members.

Political analyst Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani said although the competition was tough between the BN and the PKR-DAP-PAS pact in Kedah, BN seemed to have more advantages.

"Despite their similar campaign strategies and tactics, the BN seems to have more advantages. The trend goes in favour of BN, except for some issues concerning candidates in certain constituencies that can affect the support for BN," said the Dean of International Studies Faculty, Universiti Utara Malaysia in Alor Setar.

He said the presence of many Independent candidates, namely from Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA), Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (BERJASA) and Parti Bersatu Sasa Malaysia (BERSAMA), would only disturb the fight between the BN PKR-DAP-PKR pact.

Apart from the uncontrolled logging activities and Kuin issues, the ongoing crisis between Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, who is Kedah PAS Commissioner, and Datuk Phahrolrazi Zawawi, who is Kedah PAS deputy commissioner and state executive councillor, would also be another factor that will increase BN's chance to win back the state.

The Kedah PKR was not spared from internal crisis when one by one of its leaders resigned and even quit the party following dissatisfaction with the state leadership.

DAP, on the other hand, was facing its own problems when the candidates nominated by the top party leadership were rejected by the state leaders.

Right now, BN seemed able to retain the four parliamentary seats which were won in 2008, namely Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Jerlun and Alor Setar, while having a good chance to wrestle back the Kulim-Bandar Baharu, Padang Terap, Jerai, Sik, Merbok and Sungai Petani seats.

Of the 36 contested state seats, BN was also seen to have a chance of winning at least 20 seats, a simple majority that will enable it to form the new state government.

The BN candidate for Jerai parliamentary seat Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharum was also confident that the results of the May 5 polls in the constituency would be in BN's favour.

He said the survey conducted on voters' trend in the constituency revealed that the people were very disappointed with PAS-led state government for having failed to fulfilled its promises after ruling the state for five years.

"The people had given them the mandate to rule the state, but they did not do anything. Even Azizan, who won the Sungai Limau state seat, didn't do anything for the voters in his constituency.

"PAS leaders are only good at giving ceramah and being rhetorical, but not at bringing real development, such as repairing village roads or building a mosque or a surau," he told Bernama while going on a walkabout in Pekan Nat, Bukit Besar in Yan Friday.

He said approximately 80 per cent of the voters in Jerai had given positive reactions to support BN in the 13th general election, especially after the PAS-led state government failed to implement the affordable housing project for the people in the state.

Meanwhile, the BN candidate for Ayer Hitam state seat, Datuk Mukhriz Tun Mahathir, said the BN had a better chance of winning the state as the coalition had various plans to develop Kedah, while the PKR-DAP-PAS pact had not only failed to come out with any development plan, but also failed to continue implementing the projects initiated by the previous BN government.

"All developments which exist in Kedah now are the results of efforts taken by the previous BN government. The PAS-led government has done nothing...not even in completing an ongoing project. They are only good at doing the 'talk' and not the actual 'walk'," he said.

Among the major projects failed to be completed by the PAS-led government was the Sungai Limau Hydrocarbon Hub (Sulihh) project in Yan, which was first introduced by the BN government as the Yan Petroleum Industrial Zone (ZIPY) project.

According to the initial plan, the project is expected to be completed this year and able to garner revenue of RM400 million for the state.

The BN candidate for Bandar Baharu state seat, Datin Norsabrina Mohd Nor, also believed that the various insults on Islam and Muslims made by DAP leaders had also caused PAS supporters to lose their faith in the pact.

"These issues help strengthen the people's support for BN," she said.